10 Dead Cars That Need to Make a Comeback

Inevitably, certain models of cars will be discontinued. The reasons vary. It could be because nobody bought them. It could be because they were expensive to produce and the automaker wouldn't make a great return. Or maybe it was just time for them to die. Here are some of the discontinued cars we love that need to be made once again.

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Tesla Roadster

Tesla

With battery technology getting as good as it is, we'd absolutely love to see an updated Tesla Roadster. Tesla's current and upcoming lineup, though cool, can still be considered somewhat pedestrian in terms of being more people-carriers than pure sports cars. The Roadster was a tiny, two seater that didn't care to make room for your luggage or your dog. Now, imagine a brand-new Tesla Roadster fitted with Ludicrous Mode. That'd be something.

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Volkswagen Van

Kevin McCauley

We love the VW Van, you love the VW Van, everyone loves the VW Van. It was definitely one of the most iconic and convenient ways of camping out in the twentieth century (not to mention fashionable). People had a great time customizing them, too. Rumor has it that VW is building an all-electric microbus in 2017, hopefully adding an EV aspect to the hippy van's legacy.

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Toyota Supra

You can't have a proper automotive resurrection conversation without bringing up the Toyota Supra. It was basically Japan's muscle car, fitted with a cast-iron cylinder block that made it very tunable and a favorite among the JDM crowd. Finding a stock Supra these days is a rare thing. Toyota has teased us with the FT-1 Concept, the supposed Supra successor, but nothing has come of the design plans save for concepts. Yet.

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Pontiac Aztek

Hear us out. See, funky and unconventional SUVs are in style right now. You don't need to look any further than the Nissan Juke to get the point. Production of the Aztek ended in 2005, but we're willing to wager that if Pontiac held out for a few more years and gave the Aztek some new underpinnings to keep it fresh, it would do alright in this day and age. Unfortunately, that would also involve Pontiac still being in existence. Which it isn't, and that's sad.

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Jeep Wagoneer

The Jeep Wagoneer was the first luxury SUV, where the Lamborghini Urus and the Bentley Bentayga can trace its philosophical roots. It was loved for its thin pillars, unrestricted visibility, and how it would bulldoze through anything mother nature whipped up. Most of today's SUV buyers prioritize on-road comfort over off-road prowess. If Jeep brought back a luxury 4x4 that wasn't be afraid of getting dirty, we wouldn't even know what to do with ourselves.

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Chevrolet El Camino

Despite the truckish looks and the truckish carrying capabilities, the El Camino drove more like a car than a truck. The lack of weight over the rear tires made it a perfect tool for some rear-wagging action. Especially if you got the SS model, which had the 454 V8 engine. What muscle car today can store as much as a pickup while doing a burnout? Also, consider this: a car-based "small truck" would certainly have better fuel efficiency than a mid-sized truck like the Tacoma or the Colorado.

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Buick Grand National GNX

If a mid-sized, turbocharged V6 "mini muscle car" sounds good to you, then the Buick Grand National GNX shouldn't be an unfamiliar name. GM only made 500 of these cars and the Grand Nationals were notable because of their use of V6 engines over the V8s used in competitive Mustangs. But what if we resurrected the Grand National, built it on GM's Alpha platform and gave it the twin-turbo V6 from the ATS-V?

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Mazda RX7

Mazda

People have wanted the RX7 to return for years. Mazda has confirmed that the rotary engine is back and could make it into a production version of the RX-9. That would certainly be a joyous day for us, because we have always loved the RX7, especially for its quirks. It was easily modded and was absolutely unreliable. Today's technology could yield an equally fun car and bring a revolutionary engine back to a market where it's been missed.

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Ford Bronco

There's a conspicuous lack in today's automotive selection of a two-door truck. Like the Jeep Wagoneer, the Bronco focused more on rough-and-tumble off-roading rather than pavement livability. As such, the Bronco is set to happen no later than 2020, according to a proposed UAW contract. That's not too long to wait, is it?

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Acura Integra Type R

Nick Berard

The Integra Type R is one of the holiest of holy performance front-wheel-drive cars. It made 195-hp from its little four-cylinder engine and the handling was neutral as hell, most unlike a front-wheel-drive car. And it was expensive. We found one recently in good condition for $45,000. With the Civic Type R coming to the U.S. very soon, we're waiting to hear what Acura has to say about that (like build a new Integra Type R).

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